NBA: Detroit ends frustration in Utah with an easy win

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Detroit ended over a decade of futility in Utah on Monday night.

Andre Drummond and Rodney Stuckey scored 19 points each to lead the hot-shooting Pistons to a 114-94 victory over the Jazz.

The Pistons won at EnergySolutions Arena for the first time since the 2002-03 season, a span of 10 games going back to the final year of John Stockton and Karl Malone's Hall of Fame partnership in Utah.

"I think we played well as a team tonight," Stuckey said. "We were helping each other offensively and defensively. We just played well as a team."

Along with Drummond and Stuckey, Greg Monroe was a key for the Pistons, who snapped a 13-game road losing streak by shooting 55.4 percent and outrebounding Utah, 53-33.

"They were quicker to the ball," said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. "... We're normally a better rebounding team than that."

Said Detroit interim coach John Loyer: "I thought our bigs did a good job by not getting pushed underneath the basket and holding their ground."

Detroit took control of the game in the second quarter.

Leading 38-33, Drummond scored twice after lob passes by Will Bynum and once after an assist by Josh Smith. The Pistons built a 44-33 lead on their way to a 60-40 halftime advantage.

Detroit led by as many as 25 points in the second half before ending a four-game road trip with a lopsided victory.

The win was a bright spot in a dreary season for the Pistons, who were built to make a run at the playoffs this year but will need a miracle finish to do so.

Loyer is not expected back as the head coach and, this week, owner Tom Gores hinted that a front office shake-up will be coming in the offseason. That could be bad news for longtime general manager Joe Dumars.

"Oh, yeah, after the season we'll address it right away," Gores told the Detroit Free Press. "We have to let the season play out. We won't wait around. I had one goal for us, to be competitive. Detroit needs for us to be a champion."

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